GALLE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Opener Tharanga Paranavitana hit a maiden test hundred and Kumar Sangakkara recorded his 22nd as Sri Lanka dominated India’s bowlers on the opening day of the first test at the Galle Stadium yesterday.
Paranavitana was unbeaten on 110 while Sangakkara hit 103 as Sri Lanka reached 256 for two before rain halted play just eight overs into the final session.
Both batsmen were let off the hook by India’s fielders — Sangakkara was dropped on 65 by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni when the Indian captain failed to hold onto an edge.
Sri Lanka captain Sangakkara took full advantage of the let-off and reached his century shortly before the tea break.
Paranavitana, his patient partner, survived a chance when Gautam Gambhir failed to hold onto a reflex catch on 35.
Sangakkara fell when he failed to middle a bad ball from Virender Sehwag and was caught by Sachin Tendulkar.
Tillakaratne Dilshan was the sole Sri Lankan wicket to fall in the morning session when he attempted to hook a short delivery from test debutant Abhimanyu Mithun and gloved a catch to Dhoni on 25.
Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is making his final test appearance and needs eight wickets to become the first bowler to take 800 test wickets.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka first innings
T. Paranavitana not out 110
T. Dilshan c Dhoni b Mithun 25
K. Sangakkara c Tendulkar b Sehwag 103
M. Jayawardene not out 8
Extras: (lb-6, nb-4) 10
Total: (2 wickets; 68 overs) 256
Fall of wickets: 1-55 2-236
To bat: T. Samaraweera, A. Mathews, P. Jayawardene, L. Malinga, M. Muralitharan, R. Herath, C. Welegedara.
Bowling: Sharma 14-3-79-0 (4-nb), Mithun 13-2-41-1, Singh 17-3-41-0, Ojha 17-1-66-0, Sehwag 7-0-23-1
India team: MS Dhoni (captain), G. Gambhir, V. Sehwag, R. Dravid, S. Tendulkar, V. Laxman, Y. Singh, H. Singh, I. Sharma, P. Ojha, A. Mithun.
